Spanish football giants Real Madrid have joined the race to sign Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman from Atalanta, with the Champions League holders eyeing him as a possible successor to Vinicius Junior.
La Liga is reportedly preparing for a €300 million transfer of Brazilian striker Vinicius, potentially surpassing Neymar’s 2017 move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Lookman, who has been in stellar form since his €9.35 million move from RB Leipzig to Atalanta in 2022, has quickly become a hot commodity in Europe.
In just 90 appearances for the Italian side, he has notched 39 goals and 23 assists, showing his prowess in both scoring and playmaking.
With top European clubs circling, Real Madrid is now strongly considering Lookman to fill the gap that Vinicius could leave.
The 27-year-old Lookman was close to joining Paris Saint-Germain in August, with reports indicating he had reached a personal agreement with the French champions.
While that deal didn’t materialize, his stock continues to rise after a remarkable 2022-2023 season in which he scored 17 goals and assisted 10 times in 45 appearances.
Lookman’s highlight came in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, where he delivered a stunning hat-trick to secure Atalanta’s first European trophy.
This season, Lookman has picked up where he left off, recording seven goals and five assists in 12 appearances so far.
Real Madrid’s interest in Lookman, valued at €60 million, could test Atalanta’s resolve to retain the in-form winger, who is likely to move to the Middle East.
“Faced with uncertainty over Vinícius Jr.’s contract renewal, the Merengues have set their sights on a promising Serie A talent,” wrote Spanish outlet Fichajes, noting Lookman’s dynamic style as an ideal match for Carlo Ancelotti’s setup at Real Madrid.